Nowitzki joins Mavs' long injury list with right knee bruise
DALLAS (AP) — Add star Dirk Nowitzki to the long injury list for Dallas in the playoffs.
Coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday that Nowitzki bruised his right knee when he fell early in the Mavericks' 85-84 Game 2 win over Oklahoma City in a first-round playoff series that is tied 1-1.
Nowitzki joins a list of players who might miss Game 3 on Thursday, including starting guards Deron Williams and J.J. Barea and backup forward David Lee.
Williams is dealing with a sports hernia injury that will require offseason surgery. He had an effective first half in Game 2 on Monday but left in the third quarter and didn't return. Barea (right groin strain) missed Game 2, and Lee has yet to play in the series because of a right heel injury.